Link easily to this tutorial in your patterns: www.planetjune.com/magicring

My magic ring tutorial seems to have become pretty much the definitive photo guide that people link to in their crochet patterns, but it’s not enough for everyone. It’s taken a while, but the much-requested magic ring video tutorial is finally ready.

Now, I know that 99% of my regular readers probably already know how to make a magic ring, but it may be worth your time to watch my video anyway – I have a special little tip that makes the technique much easier!

If you’re new to crochet, let me explain that the magic ring (also known as an adjustable ring) is an essential technique for crocheting in the round when you want to avoid the hole in the middle that you see when you start with a slip knot and chain and work into the chain. If you make, or want to make, amigurumi, you need this technique!

And now to the video tutorial (in right- and left-handed versions, of course):

Magic Ring for Crochet (right-handed)

Magic Ring for Crochet (left-handed)

Note: The videos may look a little small embedded in the blog: if so, you can fullscreen them or click through to YouTube (links: right-handed; left-handed) to watch them full-sized

Magic Ring Tips

You can use magic ring in any amigurumi pattern – if it starts with a chain, just replace the starting ‘Ch 2, X sc in 2nd chain from hook’ with ‘Make a magic ring, ch 1, X sc in magic ring’.

To work in joined rounds instead of the spiral I demonstrate, simply sl st into the first st at the end of Rnd 1, then ch 1 to begin the next round.

Magic ring is also pretty handy for other crochet patterns worked in the round, too. For taller stitches, instead of the ch 1, you would ch 2 (for hdc), 3 (for dc), or more for even taller stitches, then work Rnd 1 of your stitches into the magic ring. Note that, with taller stitches, the turning (or non-turning, if you’re working without turning) chain typically does count as a stitch, so where I say to ignore the ch 1 in the video, you’d instead count that chain as the first stitch of Rnd 1, and sl st into the top of the chain before beginning Rnd 2.

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Great video. I’d already learnt how to do this by using books on crochet but this video is very clear and easy to follow. I also didn’t realise that it’s better to tighten the closed centre hole after completing the second round of stitches, or that there’s a risk of it loosening again unless you pull really tight. Thanks for this, it’s really helpful :).

Monicasaid

Thank so much for making it a video!!! Your pictures and instructions in your patterns are amazing but this video is greatly appreciated! It’s nice to know that when you do it the same way as the designer your projects will hold up Thanks!!!

Janasaid

So glad to have a good video of this! I do one thing slightly different that has really worked well for me. I pull the first chain one really tight so it is kind of a knot. This helps two ways. 1 it tightens the ring up so it’s easier to put down if I need to as it keeps the ring in place, and 2 and most important, I never mistake it for a stitch and the “bump” is not at all noticible.

You can see in the video that my ch 1 is quite small too – you’d have to battle to try to work into it! (It just happens naturally when you have your yarn under tension – that’s why you have to chain loosely if you plan to work back into those chains, e.g making a starting chain when you’re working in rows.)

I find that if you pull the ch 1 closed into a knot, it makes it much more difficult to insert your hook into the first stitch of Rnd 1 (when you begin Rnd 2), so it actually works better if you leave a little give in the chain stitch – but of course, whatever works for you is the method you should use

[…] Magic Ring Video Tutorial. @planetjune has a new video tutorial for her popular instructions to crochet the magic ring. I personally actually don’t use the magic ring much but I know it’s favored by many crocheters. […]

Thank you 1,000 times! I did finally figure it our using the written tutorial but if i don’t make a magic ring for a month or so most likely i will need the refresher and this will be wonderful to have.

I totally love your magic ring – can’t remember if it was Alice or Diane that pointed me in your direction, but however i got here, I am so glad I did!

BBsaid

Hello, I purchased a few of your patterns and I am really having a hard time with the legs. I am working on the Stegosaurus leg to be exact. . Same thing with attaching the head to the body, just not working out for me. Please let me know if you have any tips or tricks.

BB, I tried to email you about this, but you gave me a fake email address…

Assuming you’re just having difficulty attaching the pieces neatly, I recommend my Seamless Join tutorial.
(I show it on a much larger piece, but the principle is the same for any sized piece). You can also look at my older tutorial, Joining Amigurumi, which also works well and is demonstrated on similarly-sized parts to the steg legs and head.

If you need more help, please give me a real email address so I can get in touch with you!

Lee Annsaid

YAY! I finally get it!! I’ve looked everywhere to find how to make a magic ring, and I’ve never figured it out. Even with your photo tutorial, I just couldn’t quite get it. One time watching the video, and I’ve got it! I had to see every little step since I was missing some in the photos. Thank you! Not sure this lefty would have been able to figure it out watching the righty video. Thank you!!!!!!

natashasaid

Thanks for this tutorial. I have made hundreds of hats but they always had a little hole in the top. I can’t wait to try the “magic circle” it seems so simple but at the same time a great idea! Thanks again

Shawn Georgesaid

Ariadnesaid

Hi June, I love your website and thanks particularly for the video tutorials, which are incredibly clear and very useful – especially love the one on invisible decreasing! Excuse my crochet ignorance, but can you tell me if I am correct in thinking that a pattern that starts like this:

Ariadne, not quite: Round 1 in the original pattern is just forming a circle to crochet into – the equivalent of making a magic ring. So you’d jump straight to Round 2 and crochet 8 dc directly into your magic ring.

Judith Stoversaid

This is the most amazing technique I’ve found in a long time! I’ve been crocheting for over 21 years and wish I had known this years ago. I make stuffed animals and characters for my kids and now grand kids. Many of the patterns start in a round and I often have to sew together the tell tale hole so stuffing won’t get pulled out by curious little fingers. I will begin using this immediately! Thank you!!!

Rosemary Foleysaid

Hello… thank you so much for the video, I have always hated the hole in the crochet project I am working on, so I am going to try this. I watched the video, and will watch it again, as I am hearing impaired and tried using the captioning, but it really wasn’t matching what you were saying.. so when I have a minute, I will practice.. this is such a great idea and from other comments it will be easy to learn. thank you again, I am hoping to learn to make some coasters or perhaps hot hats for my children’s homes !!! and mine of course.. thank you again very much..
Rosemary.. are you on facebook ???

Rosemary, as an additional guide, you could also try following my step-by-step Magic Ring photo tutorial (linked at the top of this page) for my written explanation. And, yes! http://www.facebook.com/planetjune

Sheila Rishworthsaid

Ellasaid

Hey! Ur patterns are really good but i cant get to youtube so couldnt watch the video i need help because my magic circle isnt flat and it starts turning in the shape of a basket! Please tell me what to do!

I just wanted to say that this tutorial has saved me twice now! I first learned the magic ring from this very video when I was first learning amigurumi. I took a long break and forgot completely how to make a magic ring, and recently just looked up at least ten tutorials, and none of them were as clear and helpful as yours. Finally I can continue my amigurumi projects!

Joannasaid

Jennysaid

I’m a beginner and would have given up if it weren’t for your fantastic videos, your instructions are very clear and easy to folow, well done and many thanks.

I have a basic question though: because i struggle to keep count of rows (despite using markers and/or yarn) I’m attracted to your instructions to work in rounds and therefore avoid a spiral. I’ve made several animals using the traditional spiral method but would like to know if I change to the round method, will the animals look much the same or will they look very different. Is there any reason not to use the round method all the time?

Jenny, please read my post “the cleanest stripes in amigurumi: a comparison“, as it explains why working in spirals is usually preferable and the downsides of joining your rounds (this applies whether or not you’re making stripes!) The post also links onwards to the Perfect Stripes methods I developed for minimising the visibility of the seam – if you do decide to join all your rounds, using one of those methods will give you the best result.

And, to answer your other question, you can convert a basic amigurumi pattern designed to be worked in a continuous spiral into joined rounds, but only if it consists of simple, symmetrical pieces, so you can rotate each piece to have the seam at the back before assembly. This won’t work for most of my patterns as they usually have shaping and/or colour changes that means each piece has a ‘right way up’, so your seams may end up showing from the front and ruining the look of the amigurumi. I recommend you learn to work with continuous spirals if you can, as they do give the smoothest result. Make the stitch marker your friend And, if you still have problems with the spirals, come and ask for tips in the PlanetJune ravelry group and the PJ community will help you!

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Please note that I can only answer questions related to PlanetJune patterns and tutorials (see details), and I can only respond to questions or comments written in English. Thank you :) - June